Alito’s Way Cleared … Slightly

So Stephen R. Dujack, the final witness that Sen. Patrick Leahy thought would create the kind of negative buzz against Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, has been pulled.

According to Republican and Democratic Judiciary Committee staffers, the Democrats were aware of Dujack’s dubious background as a witness appropriate to a Supreme Court nomination, but felt that resurrecting the Concerned Alumni of Princeton story had enough upside to slide him in. According to one Democratic Committee source, some staffers advised against it, but were overruled by both Sens. Leahy and Kennedy.

“Dujack was Leahy’s guy. He wanted him. We got him and vetted him and advised against it,” says the Democratic staffer. “We were over-ruled.” This source says that there is a consensus among the committee staff — both parties — that Alito should be confirmed.

So Dujack is dust, though now Sen. Leahy’s staff is offering him to all of the news channels for interviews on Monday. That said, there are sure to be fireworks aplenty as the hearings open.